Since the script you just wrote is intended for an audience of teens like yourself, it should already sound less formal than a written report. Still, if you simply read your script aloud, you’ll miss the opportunity to connect with your listeners, and your presentation will most likely sound flat or even boring. That’s why it’s a good idea to use note cards to help you remember what to say—not a copy of your script. Here’s one example of a note card for the speech about the many uses of mushrooms:

Be sure to number your cards in the order you plan to talk about them in your speech, and only include enough information to remind you of what you should say. And to avoid the temptation to read parts of your speech, use key words and short phrases like the ones that appear in your outline. In fact, you can use all the information in your outline as your prompts—as long as it reminds you of what to say.

Before you continue with this lesson, create a set of note cards for your own presentation. You can write your notes on small index cards, or you can type them into a word processing program, print them out, and cut them into smaller index-size cards. Whether you use a computer or handwrite your notes, be sure they are easy for you to read and understand. Use large, easy-to-read fonts or writing and/or colors if that will help you remember your speech better.